Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,536, William Figgins, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Figgins, William
P 3,536
CONTENTS

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Figgins, William
P 3,536
CONTENTS

William Figgins
Rejected
J. Marshall

BRIEF in the case of  William Figgins  County of Bracken  in the State of  Kentucky  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____  3. How old is he? 70.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1781 - 1 st Feb. 1781 July not stated precisely ditto Private do. Gen. Capt. O'Bannon Col. Churchill Capt. W. Hurrey, Genl. Stevens.    
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Lauquier City. Va.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? A. Witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh
Examining Clerk.
Feb. 12, 1833.

Jan. 19. 1833
J. A. Marshall

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress of June 7 th 1832
State of Kentucky Franklin County S.S.
On the 17 th day of December 1832 personally appeared in the Court aforesaid, now sitting, as a Court for the County of Franklin, William Figgins a resident of said County aged about seventy years of age, who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress, passed 7 th June 1832. That he resided in Fauquier County Virginia, and was called out to serve a term of duty as a Militia man about the 1 st of February 1781 under the command of Capt. John O'Bannon and Col. Armistead Churchill from Fauquier, he marched to Fredericksburgh & from thence to Williamsburgh Virginia, his father having died and a sale of his estate being near at hand, he hired a man by the name of George Leach as a substitute, who was received & Genl. Stephens gave the affiant leave to return home, this was some time in March, the said Leach performed the balance of the term and returned in May

until he was wounded near Williamsburgh in a little Skirmish, when he was discharged returned home
That sometime in July 1781 he was again called out as a Militia man, for a term of three months in Fauquier County Virginia, under Capt William Flannery as well as he can recollect, the name of the Col, he cannot recollect, but Genl. Stephens was the Brigadier, - From Fauquier Ct House he marched to Morbin Hills where the Troops were encamped three or four days - at this place he hired William Higgins as a Substitute to perform the balance of the term he gave him about forty dollars good money Higgins afterwards was taken lame & was discharged
his William Higgins mark
On the same day before the same Court came personally William Owens a resident of Mason County Kentucky, and being sworn deposeth & saith, that he is about sixty nine years of age, that in 1781 he resided in Fauquier County Virginia, and recollects very well that William Higgins was drafted as a Militia man for a term of three months about the 1 st of February in that year, that the deponent was in the same company with Higgins and marched together

as stated by him, that he recollects very well the said Figgins having hired Leach as a substitute for he also recollects the said Leach being wounded near Williamsburgh, when he was discharged as mentioned by said Figgins, he has known said Figgins ever since his now lives about twelve miles from him.
Williams Owens
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after hearing the above testimony that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as stated by him in the foregoing declaration, - That the said William Figgins & William Owens are & have been for many years well known to the Court as honorable men & men of integrity, who are entitled to credit.
I John Payne Clerk of the Court for Warren county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Figgins for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this 19 th December 1832
J. Payne

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
3536
P. O. William Figgins
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

William Siggins Kentucky Act of June 1832
Rejected See letter to Hon. J. Marshall Feby. 15. 1833 — .. —
3536

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Figgins further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? No VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ye X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? _____
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? _____
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1. 2. 5. 6. 7.
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.